PLANTS, THEIR PROPERTIES, YOUR BALANCE.
Botanical photograph: Black nightshade (Solanum nigrum L.)

BOTANICAL PHOTOGRAPH · SOLANACEAE

THE HERBARIUM · SOLANACEAE

Black nightshade

Solanum nigrum L.

Source topics

These topics describe what the sources discuss, including unproven claims and risks. They are not therapeutic recommendations.

Documentary entry
  • Pharmacopoeial recordInsufficient evidence
Plant partLeafy stems
FormsNo recommended preparation

Documentary entryReported uses only. No preparation or therapeutic use is recommended.

Warning: ANSM flags fruit as toxic. No home preparation.

Identity & origin

BOTANICAL IDENTITY

The right name is the first step.

Kew describes this taxon as an annual or perennial. This notice concerns Solanum nigrum, family Solanaceae. The pharmacopoeial material is: leafy stems.

Part used
Leafy stems
Origin & distribution
Native range reported by Kew: W. & S. Europe to Temp. E. Asia, Macaronesia, N. & NE. Tropical Africa.

Botanical and documentary notice: the inventory alone is insufficient to propose a therapeutic use.

Also known as: Morelle noire, Solanum nigrum

ANSM distinguishes the listed leafy stem from fruit flagged as toxic. This distinction must not be converted into advice for selecting or eating wild berries.A photograph alone does not guarantee identification for consumption.

An illustration is not enough to identify a plant for consumption. Do not forage for a species based solely on this profile.

Uses & evidence

UNDERSTANDING THE USES

Properties & uses.

Insufficient evidence

Pharmacopoeial record

Traditional-use listing is documented for this material. The inventory does not establish a clinically validated indication here.

The references do not establish a benefit. Lack of evidence is not assurance of safety.

Read the source

The traditional uses described are not clinical proof of effectiveness. Evidence for one preparation cannot automatically be applied to another.

Precautions before use

BEFORE ANY USE

Precautions & contraindications.

This guidance does not cover every individual situation. Missing information is not a guarantee of safety.

The following warnings do not constitute a complete review of interactions or contraindications. An unstudied combination cannot be considered compatible.

Contraindications & precautions

  • Do not consume parts flagged as toxic or attempt home detoxification.

Medicine interactions

  • Medicine compatibility is not assessed in this notice; a pharmacist should check it before any use.

“Reported” does not prove causality; “possible” may reflect indirect evidence. “None reported” means none in the cited source, not that all combinations have been studied. Do not stop a prescribed treatment based on this profile.

Adverse effects

  • The inventory alone does not establish adverse-effect type or frequency.

Pregnancy & breastfeeding

The retained data do not support recommending medicinal use during pregnancy or breastfeeding.

Children & adolescents

No paediatric use is proposed; pharmacopoeial listing does not establish a child-appropriate dose.

If symptoms persist, worsen or are unusual, consult a healthcare professional. In an emergency, contact the emergency services.

Sources & last review

CHECKING REFERENCES

Sources for this profile.

  1. ANSM — French Pharmacopoeia, List A, January 2026, p. 24Accessed on 09/10/2026
  2. GBIF — taxonomy of Solanum nigrumAccessed on 09/10/2026
  3. Kew POWO — Solanum nigrum L.Accessed on 09/10/2026

Image: Filippo Ceragioli · CC BY-SA 4.0. View the original image and its licence. Image resized and converted to WebP.

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